UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT Paper II · Q22 of 79 Comprehension medium

Passage

Passage—1 By the time children reach class 8, the bulk of them tend to be in the age range of 13 years to 15 years. But in our country, about a quarter of all children in class 8 struggle with reading simple texts and more than half are still unable to do basic arithmetic operations like division. Every year about 25 million young boys and girls from elementary school move into the life that lies for them beyond compulsory schooling. They cannot enter the workforce at least in the organized sector till they are 18. For many families, these children are the first from their families ever to get this far in school. Parents and children expect that such 'graduates' from school will go on to high school and college. Hardly anyone wants to go back to agriculture. On the other hand, abilities in terms of academic competencies are far lower than they should be even based on curricular expectations of class 8.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea conveyed by the passage?

  1. (a) Total eradication of poverty in the country will resolve the issue of under-performance of our school-children.
  2. (b) Monetary incentives to parents and teachers is a strategy to improve the children's academic performance.
  3. (c) Public policy should ensure that competencies and achievements of young people are aligned with their expectations. ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) India is not going to take advantage of the demographic dividend unless some school pass-outs go back to agriculture.

Why the answer is (c)

• The passage highlights a critical gap: while parents and children expect 'graduates' from class 8 to proceed to higher education and avoid agriculture, their actual academic competencies (reading and arithmetic) are far below curricular standards.

• It notes that these students cannot enter the organized workforce until age 18, creating a period where their low skills do not match their high expectations for future success.

• The central argument is that this mismatch between low academic ability and high societal/individual expectations is a systemic issue that needs addressing.

• Therefore, the passage implies that public policy must intervene to bridge this gap, ensuring that the competencies of young people are aligned with the expectations placed upon them by society and their families.

• Option (c) accurately captures this need for policy-driven alignment between actual skills and expected outcomes.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Total eradication of poverty in the country will resolve the issue of under-performance…
The passage does not mention poverty eradication as a solution to the specific issue of low academic competencies in class 8.
(b) Monetary incentives to parents and teachers is a strategy to improve the children's…
The text does not suggest monetary incentives for parents or teachers as a strategy to improve academic performance.
(d) India is not going to take advantage of the demographic dividend unless some school…
The passage states that hardly anyone wants to go back to agriculture, but it does not argue that doing so is necessary to capture the demographic dividend.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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